French
DeutschWeLion
| WeLion New Energy | |
Native name | 北京卫蓝新能源科技有限公司 |
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Electric batteries |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Fanshang, Beijing , China |
| Website | solidstatelion |
Beijing WeLion New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., known simply as WeLion New Energy or WeLion (sometimes stylized WELION), is a Chinese battery manufacturer specializing in semi-solid and solid state batteries for use in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. The company is headquartered in the Beijing's Fangshan District, and is a spinoff from the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is best known for supplying the world's first mass produced semi-solid state battery cells for an automotive traction battery application, in the form of Nio's 150 kWh swappable battery pack.
Overview and Partnerships
[edit]On January 9 2021 at Nio's 'Nio Day 2020' event, Nio announced that a 150 kWh semi-solid state battery pack would later be made available. Later, it was revealed that WeLion would be the supplier of the battery cells. On June 30, 2023, Nio received the first shipments of the battery cells, and the packs first became available for rent by the public in mid-2024. The semi-solid state battery cells allow for a 50% higher energy capacity in the same dimensions compared to a conventional pack, with only a minor 20-kilogram (44 lb) weight increase, allowing for a range of 1,050-kilometre (650 mi) range in the ET7 sedan.
On May 20, 2021 WeLion signed an agreement with a subsidiary of Tianqi Lithium to form a joint venture. The aim of the joint venture is to develop, produce and sell lithium anode materials, and manufacturing equipment and ingredients for battery pre-lithiation processes.[1][2]
In August 2021, WeLion received a CN¥ 500 million (approximately US$78 million) investment from Geely, Huawei and Xiaomi. The investments are from Hubei Xiaomi Yangtze River Industry Investment Fund Partners (Changjiang Industrial Fund and Xiaomi fund launched in 2017) and Shenzhen Hubble Technology Investment Partners (a Huawei venture capital subsidiary), and Ningbo Geely Blue Initiative Business Management Partners (a Geely Holding Group subsidiary). The investments put WeLion's valuation at CN¥ 5 billion (approximately US$780 million).[3][4][5]
In May 2022, WeLion signed a five-year agreement with Ronbay Technology for the supply of at least 30,000 tons of battery cathode materials. The agreement stipulates that Ronbay will be WeLion's primary supplier of high-nickel cathode materials for use in NMC chemistry solid-state batteries.[6]
On November 4, 2022 WeLion disclosed that it had secured CN¥ 1.5 billion (approximately US$209 million) in Series D financing.[7]
On April 24, 2024 WeLion and JAC signed an agreement for the supply of semi-solid state battery cells for use in Yiwei brand cars. The batteries will be cylindrical 4695 format cells, and will be used in Yiwei's second generation DI platform.[8]
On June 6, 2024 the Longquan Energy Storage project located near Longquan, Zhejiang was connected to the grid. The now operational first phase has a capacity of 200MWh and an output of 100MW and uses WeLion's semi-solid state cells, making it the world's first large scale use of semi-solid state batteries in a battery energy storage system context. The project is run by state-owned Power China, and is eventually planned to have a 400MWh capacity and 200MW output on the 40-acre site. It uses LFP solid-liquid hybrid electrolyte battery cells with a cell capacity of 280Ah, energy density of 165Wh/kg, and a rated lifespan of 6000 cycles.[9][10]
Facilities
[edit]- Beijing Fangshan Base
- Headquarters, R&D and solid-state battery mass production
- 4.66 + 10.1 ha
- 8 GWh capacity
- 2025
- Zibo Base, Shandong
- Energy storage base
- 33.3 ha
- 20 GWh capacity (energy storage applications)
- September 2023 (Phase 1)
- Jiangsu Liyang Base
- Low-altitude economic power base
- 2.53 ha
- 0.2 GWh capacity
- August 2020
- Zhejiang Shaoxing pulp base
- Solid state materials and solid state battery production base project
- 1.5 ha
- 10,000 tons capacity
- End of 2023 production date
- Zhejiang Huzhou base
- Car power base
- 4.66 + 33.3 ha
- 2 + 20 GWh capacity
- Q3 2022 + Q4 2025
- Shenzhen Pingshan, Guangdong
- Solid-state battery R&D base
- 5742 m2
- 600 MWh capacity
- March 2025
References
[edit]- ^ Zhang, Phate (2022-05-21). "Lithium giant Tianqi to form JV with Nio's semi-solid-state battery supplier WeLion". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
- ^ Zhang, Phate (2022-08-19). "Tianqi Lithium forms JV with Nio's solid-state battery supplier WeLion". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
- ^ "Xiaomi, Huawei, Geely-backed firms invest in solid-state battery maker WeLion". autonews.gasgoo.com. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ Zhang, Phate (2022-03-28). "Nio's semi-solid-state battery supplier WeLion secures investments from Xiaomi, Huawei". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ Pandaily (2021-11-26). "Xiaomi and Huawei to Invest in NIO Battery Supplier Welion New Energy, Sources Say". Pandaily. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ Zhang, Phate (2022-04-26). "Nio's semi-solid-state battery supplier WeLion signs deal for 30,000 tons of cathode material". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
- ^ Kang, Lei (2022-11-07). "Nio's semi-solid-state battery supplier WeLion closes about $200 million in new funding". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ raza (2024-04-24). "Nio - semi-solid-state battery supplier WeLion and JAC unit to jointly make EVs with up to 1,000 km range". Batteries News. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ "World's first large scale semi-solid-state energy storage project connected to the grid (Industry update)". Rho Motion. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ "World's first grid-scale, semi-solid-state energy storage project goes online". pv magazine International. 2024-07-05. Retrieved 2024-11-18.